Are you a good listener? Keep your ear to the ground and let us know. Sign Up Do you have an oversight or transparency nightmare to report about your district? Let the whole world know! Oversight Report Card Every week districts are misusing bond funds for purposes not permitted by Proposition 39. Can you stop it? Find out on the weekly call. Sign Up

VOTER ALERT!

This measure is a Proposition 46 measure requiring two-thirds voter approval. It is written as if it were a Proposition 39 (55%) measure and includes many, many things that are allowable under Proposition 39, but not under Proposition 46. Proposition 46 limits the use of bond proceeds to the "aquisition or improvement of real property." Improvement of real property does not include maintenance and repair. Furthermore, Proposition 39 allows bond funds to be spent on furnishings and equipment which Proposition 46 does not permit.

Are you sure you want vote to support this extravagant measure? It has no accountability.

This campaign was designed by Caldwell Flores Winters Inc. We figured out just the right words to get you to you to open up your checkbook.

We'd also like to introduce you to our partners -- bond lawyers, brokers, wealthy investors, architects, management firms, construction companies, and trade unions. We all stand to make a ton of money on these bonds. Our profits come right off the top, before a penny is actually spent on improving the facilities.

We're not just doing it for the money. We like to show off our work in Architectural Digest and other places where the rich and famous congregate.

Remember, we've taken a lot of risk. We gave money to get your governing board members elected, so they'd be sure to remember us when we came around for a hand-out later.

It's just business-as-usual, here in sunny Corruptifornia.

Please don't read the fine print. That's just put in by the lawyers to make what we're going to do to for you legal.

When you see highlighting in the documents below, hover overCriticalExample commentary. it to see the commentary.

"To construct a new gymnasium/multi-purpose room, enhance student safety and security, modernize classrooms and support facilities, including restrooms, upgrade playgrounds and athletic fields, and provide the local match for State grants, shall the Meadows Union Elementary School District be authorized to issue up to $6,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, with an independent Citizens' Oversight CommitteeCriticalIndependent? Really? The staff selects the committee. The Board rubber-stamps it. The Board can remove anyone who questions anything that the money is used for. You can be certain that there won't be anyone on the committee who isn't a cheerleader for spending your money on architectural marvels, like the Taj Mahal., and no money for administrative salaries?"

The California Constitution authorizes school districts to issue bonded indebtedness through the imposition of ad valorem property taxes upon approval of two-thirds of voters of the district who vote on the measure.

The Meadows Union Elementary School District ("the District") proposes to issue bonded indebtedness for construction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including furnishing and equipping school facilities, or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities.

If two-thirds of the voters of the District who vote on the measure vote in favor of the measure, the District will be authorized to incur debt by issuing general obligation bonds to provide financing for projects listed in measure R. Proceeds may only be used for the stated purpose and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses. If the measure is not approved by at least two-thirds of the voters of the District who vote on the measure, the measure will fail and the bonds will not be issued.

The maximum principal amount of the proposed bonds is not to exceed six million dollars ($6,000,000.00). The interest rate will be established at the time of sale and will depend on market rates at that time. If issued under the Government Code, the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed forty (40) years. If issued under the Education Code, the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed twenty-five (25) years. The exact effect on tax rates cannot be determined until after the bonds are sold. The bonds will bear interest at a rate not exceeding the legal limit.

An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee will actively review expenditure of bond revenues. An annual report will be prepared, indicating the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any projects listed in the measure.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds in an amount not-to-exceed the principal amount six million dollars ($6,000,000.00). A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the District to issue and sell said bonds.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure R. If you desire a complete copy of the measure, please call the Election Official's Office at (442) 265-1060 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

At Meadows Union Elementary School District, we recognize the value of a good education and the contribution good schools make to the desirability of our community. When our school was constructed, no allowance was made for a space to conduct assemblies or allow for sports and recreation indoors during inclement weather. We now have an opportunity to complete our school and meet the needs of the students by providing a new gymnasium/multipurpose room as well as much needed additional restrooms. To assist, the District is eligible to receive nearly $2.0 million in State grants, but a local match is required. A "YES" vote on Measure "R" provides this local match and benefits our entire community in the form of providing funding for new and necessary school facilities.

MEASURE "R" WILL:

• Provide a new multi-use building and gymnasium for use by our community and students

• Make the District eligible to receive State grants by providing the required local match

Measure "R" has provisions to ensure that the funds can only be used for the purposes stated to voters. No funds can be used for teacher's salaries or school operations. An independent Citizens Oversight CommitteeCriticalIndependent? Really? The staff selects the committee. The Board rubber-stamps it. The Board can remove anyone who questions anything that the money is used for. You can be certain that there won't be anyone on the committee who isn't a cheerleader for spending your money on architectural marvels, like the Taj Mahal. will be established to monitor Measure "R" expenditures.

Your "YES" vote on Measure "R" will help to support student achievement and provide the facilities that our children deserve with funds that cannot be taken away by the State.

The listed projects will be completed as neededCriticalYou see? None of these repairs are current needs. They may be needed in the future, though. After years and years of neglect, any facility will fall into disrepair.. Each projectCriticalHere it comes. This is the kitchen sink paragraph. Ask an English teacher to diagram every sentence. See if any two people can agree on what all this gibberish means. It's here so that just in case the district left something out, this covers it, no matter what the district wants to do. is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, program management, staff training expensesCriticalTraining is an operating expense, specifically prohibited by the California Constitution. What will it train staff to do? How to open a door? How to turn on the lights? This is just another way to move operating costs from the general fund to the bonds and use the money saved to pay salaries, benefits, and pensions. and a customary contingency, and escalation for unforeseen design and construction costs. In addition to the listed projects stated above, the Project List also includes the acquisition of a variety of instructional, maintenance and operational equipment, including the reduction or retirement of outstanding lease obligationsCriticalLeases are OPERATING expenses explicitly prohibited by the Constitution Article XIII-A Section 1(b)(3)(A) (Proposition 39). "not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses." and interim funding incurred to advance fund projects from the Project List, payment of the costs of preparation of all facility planning, facility studies, assessment reviews, facility master plan preparation and updatesCriticalFacilities master plans are required by law, whether or not there is a bond. These are OPERATING expenses explicitly prohibited by the Constitution Article XIII-A Section 1(b)(3)(A) (Proposition 39). "not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.", environmental studies (including environmental investigation, remediation and monitoring), design and construction documentation, and temporary housing of dislocated District activities caused by bond projects. The upgrading of technology infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, computers, LCD projectors, portable interface devices, servers, switches, routers, modules, sound projection systems, laser printers, digital white boards, document projectors, upgrade voice-over-IP, call manager and network security / firewall, and other miscellaneous equipment and software.

The budget for each project, as defined in the Capital Investment Program is an estimation and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded and projects are completed. Based on the final costs of each project, certain of the projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed. Demolition of existing facilities and reconstruction of facilities scheduled for repair and upgrade may occur, if the Board determines that such an approach would be more cost-effective in creating enhanced and operationally efficient campuses. Necessary site preparation / restoration and landscaping, may occur in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, redirecting fire access, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property.

The allocation of bond proceeds may be affected by the District's receipt of State matching funds and the final costs of each project. In the absence of State matching funds, which the District will pursue to reduce the District's share of the costs of the projects, the District may not be able to complete some of the projects listed above.

The timeline and order of completion of the identified projects within this Bond Project list are at the discretion of the District. In addition, the issuance of bonds pursuant to this measure depends in part on the assessed valuation of properties in the District and as a result issuance may require approval from the State Department of Education for a waiver of bonding capacityRED FLAG!Forget about the "estimated" tax rate! It's just a fantasy. This means that the district is going to put you into debt no matter how high your tax bill goes. Suckers!.

An election will be held in the Meadows Union Elementary School District (the "District") on November 8, 2016, to authorize the sale of up to $6 million in bonds of the District for the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List established by the District, as described in the proposition. If the bonds are authorized, the District expects to sell the bonds in one or more series. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code.

(1) The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bonds during the first fiscal year after the first sale of the bonds based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.078 per $100 of assessed valuation ($78.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) in fiscal year 2017-18.

(2) The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bonds during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.078 per $100 of assessed valuation ($78.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) in fiscal year 2017-18.

(3) The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.078 per $100 of assessed valuation ($78.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) in fiscal year 2017-18.

(4) The best estimate of the total debt service, including the principal and interest, that would be required to be repaid if all the bonds are issued and sold is $14,100,000 ($6,000,000 of principal and $8,100,000 of interest). This estimates is based on assumptions regarding future interest rates and the term, timing, structure and amount of each series of bonds.

Voters should note that such estimated tax rates are specific to the repayment of bonds issued under this authorization and are and will be in addition to tax rates levied in connection with other bond authorizations approved or to be approved by the District or any other overlapping public agency.

Voters should note that estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on Imperial County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the Imperial County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.